PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court today upheld the death sentence on a former security guard La Ardi Rasila Ode for the murder of AmBank officer Norazita Abu Talib, three years ago.
A five-member bench chaired by Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Md Raus Shariff in a unanimous decision, dismissed the Indonesian's appeal against his conviction and death sentence.
Md Raus in dismissing the appeal said that La Ode's conviction is safe.
"The conviction and death sentence is affirmed,” he said.
The court also upheld La Ode’s conviction and death sentence on the second charge of firing a shot using a pump gun when committing robbery at the bank with intention to cause Norazita’s death.
The other four judges presiding on the panel were Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop, Tan Sri Hassan Lah and Datuk Zaharah Ibrahim.
The Shah Alam High Court had sentenced La Ode to death on Aug 8, 2014 after he was found guilty of committing both offences at AmBank Subang Jaya branch in Jalan USJ Sentral 2, Subang Jaya between 6pm and 6.30pm on October 23, 2013.
According to the facts of the case, Norazita, 37, and another bank officer were placing cash in the vault when La Ode, who was on duty as a relief security guard at the branch, fired a shot, hitting Norazita in the face, causing her to fall.
La Ode then pulled the other bank officer out of the vault and proceeded to take out cash amounting to RM450,000 before fleeing the bank.
Police investigation showed that part of the money was recovered from another Indonesian security guard who confirmed that the accused had given him the money.
La Ode was subsequently arrested in Johor 18 days after the incident and police recovered the pump gun in a drain in Subang Jaya.
He was represented by counsel Gooi Soon Seng and S.Selvi while deputy public prosecutor Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abdul Rahman appeared for the prosecution.